Apparatus for forming articles



Dec. 22, 1953 c. HERZOG 2,663,120

Y APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES Filed Sept. 21, 1950 '1 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

INVENTOR CHE/P206 A TTORNF" 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21. 1 950 l l l I I l L /N l/E N TOR c. HERZOG A T TORNE V 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 21, 1950 uvvaN TOR C. HE R2 06' A TTORNEY Dec. 22, 1953 c. HERZOG APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sep'lL' 21, 1950 INVENTOR C.HERZOG By M A 7'TORNEY Dec. 22, 1953 c. HERZOG I APPARATUS- FOR FORMING ARTICLES 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 21, 1950 FIG. .5

' INVENTOR cwmzoa By M ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1953 c, HERZQG 2,663,120

APPARATUS FOR FORMING ARTICLES I Filed Sept. 21, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet e INVENITOR C. HE RZ 06 By WM Dec. 22, 1953 c. HERZOG 2,663,120

APPARATUS F OR FORMING ARTICLES Filed Sept. 21, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR C. HE R206 A TTORNEV Patented Dec. 22, 1953 r ENI" OFFICE,

APrAnArusr-on FORMING ARTICLES -.Ca1:lHerzog, Bellev-ille, N. J .assi gnor. to Western- Electric Company, Incorporated, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of ew York Application September 21, 1950, SeriaI'No. 186,005

4 Claims.

1 This invention relates to apparatusafor forming articles and more particularly to apparatus for forming mercury switches.

The type mercury switch to be manufactured it by the present embodiment of :the invention was designed particularly for use in the: telephone industry and includes a glass envelope, tubular in general contour and of. a. given length whereby contacts may be sealed in one end thereof and an armature sealed in:'the opposite end thereof; The manufacture ofithis-tube presented various problems: including, first, the support of a glass tube at a given position, second, the location of the contacts, which in the present instance included. two pairs, so that they would be accurately located not only with respect to each other but with respect to the center line of the glass tube before the adja'centend of the glass tube was fused, sealing the contacts in place.

Another problem included the accurate-location of the armature'within. the glass tube relative to the contacts so that when it was" sealedin the opposite end of the tube, the innermost end of the armaturewould be accurately positioned with re'spectto the pairs of contacts.

An object of the present invention is to provi'de an apparatus for forming articles wherein the various parts or units to form the article may be accurately positioned with respectto; each other; I 1 5 With this and otherobj'ects in View, the invention comprises an apparatus forholding a receptacle, such as a glass tube, at a given position and successively locating other parts of the article within the receptacle for mounting therein.

In the present 'embodiment of the invention,

the apparatus includes a support with reference surfaces to receive, in a predetermined order, holders for parts tube-assembled in the glass tube, these holders having-reference surfaces to engage their respective reference surfaces of the support and to be latchedin place so that the parts carried by the holders" will be accurately located within the glass tube. a "j other objects and advantages will be" apparent from the following detailed descriptionjwhen considered in conjunctionwith' the accompanying drawings whereinzj' v h I Fig. l is a side. elevational view of the apparatus., portions thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus, portions thereof being broken away; I p

Fig- 8' is a front elevat o a v w i he anparatus;

V .2 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the'apparatus illustrating the glass tube mounted in. position and the holder for the contacts mounted in its support;

Fig. 5 illustrates the same structure shown in;

Fig; 4 after the contacts have been sealed in the lower end of the glass tube, the-contact holder removed and the armaturezholde'r with the armature mounted. in place;

Fig. 6 illustrates the structure. shown Fig. 5 but in reverse position, completing the sealing: operation of the glass. tube Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the tube holding. chuck; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are detailed'views-or the mercury switch: completed through: the aid of this apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, attention is first directed. to Figs. '8 and 9 which illustrate the article or'mercury switch to be assembled through the aid of this. apparatus. The mercury switch includes a glass envelope or tube ill of a given length which. in reality is approximately two inches or less than'one third the size: shown- 1 Figs. 3' and 9. There are two pairs of contacts I! and I2 to be: mounted given distances apart and at a definite position in one end of the glass envelope. An armature unit l4 sup orted. mainly by a metallic tube isijncludes a contact engaging end I 6' which must be positioned between the pairs of contacts II and I2 and engagement with the contacts ['2 as illustrated in Fig. 8. a

The apparatus for forming the mercury switch includes a chuck (Figs. 1, 5 and '7) having spaced blocks 2| with tapered surfaces" to be engaged by the glass tube I 0' and serve to accurately locate the tube with its center line in a given position. A latch 23 pivoted at 24 and having. an'engaging portion 25 is normally urged inwardly by a spring 26 to force the glass tube in into engagement with the tapered surfaces of theblocks 2| and holdiit in position. A pin 28 is slidable in anaperture of the chuck 20. its outer end being positioned to be engaged by a cam 29 rotatable about the axis of a shaft 30 through the aid of a handlever 3i. The rounded surface 32 of the cam is eccentric with respect to the center line of the shaft 39 so that actuation of the lever 3i will move the pin 28 to the right (Fig. '2) to move the latch 23 to free the tube 10 or to open the chuck for the reception of a new tube.

The chuck 20 is integral with a head 35 which also includes a support 36 for holders for the contacts H and I2 and the armature |4. The support 36 (shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive) includes an aperture 31 disposed in alignment with the tube holding portion of the chuck 20 and is provided with three reference surfaces 40 at the two sides and innermost portion thereof to serve in accurately locating the holders for the contacts and armature. The term reference surfaces is intended to imply that these surfaces are accurately machined to lie in known planes relative to each other and relative to the chuck 29 as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. The three reference surfaces 40, as shown in Fig. 2, compose the three surfaces of the apertures 31. The holder for the contacts is indicated generally at 4| and is shown in Fig. 4. This holder includes a main member 42 having a cross sectional contour similar to the aperture 31 and with three reference the reference surfaces 66 and 40 are such that surfaces 43 to engage the reference surfaces 40 whereby the contacts H and I2, accurately positioned in the opposite end of the holder, will be properly located within the lower end of the glass tube. The three reference surfaces 43 of the holder 4| are accurately machined to lie in known planes relative to each other and relative to the contact holding end whereby the contacts will be in known positions relative to each other and the reference surfaces 43. The dimensions of the reference surfaces 40 and 43 are such that the portion 42 of the holder 4| may be moved into the aperture 31 and held in only the correct position determined by the engagement of the respective reference surfaces. While positioning the holder 4| in the aperture 31 of the support 36, it is moved downwardly to cause the contacts II and I2 to move through the tube ID to the positions shown in Fig. 4 where they will be located in the lower end of the tube. During this time and until the contacts are secured in the end of the tube, the lower portion of the holder will be positioned in the tube. the head 35 normally urgesthe holder 4| or the other holder for the armature, to be hereinafter described, to the right when these holders are released by the latch 46. The latch 46 is shown more in detail in Fig. 2, it being pivotedly supported at 41, provided with an engaging member 48 and normally urged clockwise into engagement with either holder through the aid of its spring 49.

A latch releasing mechanism includes a A spring-pressed plunger 45 mounted in' plunger 5| slidably disposed in an aperture 52 of the support 36 limited in its movement by a pin 53 disposed at a fixed position and extending transversely of the plunger in a cutaway portion 54 thereof. The plunger 5|, when the head 35 is in the position shown inFigs. 1 to 5 inclusive, is in alignment with a push rod 56 supported for sliding movement in apertured portions of the frame 51 and normally urged to the left (Figs. 1 and 2) by the aid of a spring 58 limited by a collar 59. A cam 60 mounted for rotation about an axis 6| through theaid of a handlever 62 will move the push rod 56 against the force of the spring 58 to engage and actuate the plunger 54 to move the latch 46 into open position against the force of its spring 49.

The holder 4| for the contacts II and I2 is,

the subject matter of the applicants copending application, Serial No. 186,004, filed September 21, 1950, andfor this reason the detailed structures of this holder, particularly the contact holding portion thereof, are not shown. A holder 65 for the armature l4 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is the subject matter of applicants cothe portion of the holder 65 including the refer ence surfaces 66 may be moved into the aperture 31 and held in only the correct position de termined by the engagement of these reference surfaces. Through this means the mere mounting of the holder 55 in the aperture 31 will as sure accurate location of the armature in the upper end of the tube Ill.

The head 35 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 is rigidly mounted onthe outer end of a shaft 53, the shaft being journalled in a bearing 64 of the bracket 51. A beveled gear 61 is mounted on a reduced inner end of the shaft 53 and interengages a larger beveled gear 68. The beveled gear 68 is mounted on the upper end of a vertical shaft 69 which is journalled in a bearing 18 of the bracket 51, the lower end of the shaft being fixed to a lever 1|, normally urged into the present position by a'spring 12. The lever 1| may be operated by a suitable cam or manually operated depending upon Whether or not one head 35 is employed ora multiplicity of heads on a turret type, machine. The purpose of the lever 1| is to 'rockthe'shaft 69 to rotate the beveled gears 68 and 51, rotating the shaft 63 and thus rotating the head 35 180 or any distance desired depending upon the position re quired during the various steps of the method.

Contact springs 1516 and 11-'18 are mounted as illustrated, particularly in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, upon opposite ends of the head 35 and of the contours illustrated in Fig. 3 for movement selectively to engagement with terminals 19 and 80. The contacts 15 and 16 are electrically con nected to leads 8| and 82 of a heating unit 33 while the contacts 11 and18 are electrically connected to leads 85 and 86 of the heating unit 3?. The heating'units are positioned in alignment with each other upon opposite sides of the chuck 28 to surround the adjacent ends of the glass tube l0, these units providing the heat necessary to fuse the ends of the tubes. The terminals 19 and are included in an electrical circuit (not shown) to supply the necessary energy to the heating units 83and 81 when their respective contacts are moved into engagement with the terminals.

Considering now the operation of the appa ratus and the steps of the method completed through the aid of the apparatus, attention is first'directed to the chuck 20. The glass tube, during the first stepof themethod, is mounted at a given position, this position being determined by the chuck. The chuck 2B is opened through the actuation of the. lever 3|, the tube disposed in place and the chuck allowed to move into its closed position. This step of the method may be carried out if so desired with the head 35 turned 9 0 from the normal position shown in Fig. 1. This may be preferred in that the contacts 1516 and 11-18 are out of engagement with the terminals 19 and 80 should it be desir:

able to have the circuit, including the terminals,

5.. effective at all times for closing during movement of the contacts into engagement the tern-final Furthermore, if desired, a suitabie switch may be included in the circuit forrnove-- niflfi illt dpeh position priortomountingthe glass tube in the chuck 2t and thereby eliminat mg the necessity of turning the head 9%.

In actual practice a number or the holders 4i i and B are provide so that they may be loaded with their contacts and armaturesi Furthermore, to assist in the sealing ofthe ends of the glass tube, glass beads are provided for both the contacts and the armature supplying the addi-- tional material needed to completely'seal the ends of the tubeiabout their respective" units, namely, the contacts and the armature. The bead's'for the contacts are shown in Fig. 4 and indicated by reference numeral 99 while the bead for the armature is shown in Fig. 5 and indicated by reference numeral 9 I.

The next step of the method includes the location of the contacts at given spaced positions with respect to each other and with respect to the center line of'the tube. This is made, possible through the reference surfaces in in thesupport 36. corresponding to the reference, surfaces d3 of the holder H and the operation of the latc'lrtii to hold the reference surfaces of the holder di into intimate engagement with the reference sin; faces of the support. When this has been accomplished, the next step of the method includes heating the lower end of the tube and the glass beads 90 to fuse these glass portions into a common mass while the contacts are firmly held in their respective positions, to seal them in place and complete one end of the switch. When this has been accomplished and the fused glass allowed to cool sufficiently to solidify, the holder 4! is removed, leaving the contacts H and I2 in place. Removal of the holder 4| is accomplished after actuation of the handlever 82, the cam 59, the rods 56 and 5!, move the latch 46 into open position against its spring 49.

The next step of the method includes accurately locating the armature M within the glass tube so that the leading end of the armature will engage one pair of contacts and be positioned between the pairs of contacts. The tube with the contacts remains in the chuck 2!! and after the holder 4! has been removed from the support 36, the unit 55 with the armature I4 may be located in the'support utilizing the reference surfaces 40 in cooperation with the reference surfaces 66 of the holder 65. Through the closing of the latch d6, the holder 65 and r the armature M are accurately positioned with respect to the glass tube in and the contacts ll and 12. This step or the method having been completed, attention is next directed to Fig. 6 which illustrates the positioning of the head 35 during the next step of the method. The head 35 has been moved into the position shown in Fig. 6 through the actuationof the lever l! moving the contacts l5 and 76 out of engagement with the terminal iii-86 and moving the contacts TI and 28 into contact with the terminals. In this manner the heating unit 8'! is included in the circuit to heat the adjacent end of the glass tube It and the bead 9| to fuse-them about the armature thus sealing it in place and completing this portion of the mercury switch. After the last'sealing step has been completed and the tube allowed to cool sufficiently to solidify the sealed end, the holder 65 may be removed after which the completed article may be removed from the chuck 20.

The operation of the apparatus may be con tinued to carry out the various steps of the method efnrstlocating a receptacle or glass tube in agiven position, locating contacts in one end of the receptacle or tube at known positions with respect to the center line of the tube, fusing the adjacent end of the tube to seal the contacts therein, locating an armature in the glass tube with the leading ends of the armature disposed at desired positions withrespect to the contactsand sealing the armature in the opposite end of the tube. All of these steps of the method are assured through the utilization of reference surfaces of the support located at known positions with res ect to the chuck where in the glass tube is mounted to successfully recivethe holders for the contacts and the armatore whereb these parts of the article to be assembled will be accurately located within the glass tube at knownpositions with respect to the ends of the tube and the center line thereof.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the ap plication of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily de vised by those skilled in-the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall withintnes irit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming glass sealed conductive parts in combination with holders for removably holding the parts and having like reference surfaces disposed at known positions relative to their respective parts, the apparatus com prising a shaft, a head rotatably supported on the shaft, 21 chuck supported by the head to removably secure a glass tube in a given position, a support mounted on the head and-having a reference surface disposed at a given position relative to the tube in the chuck, means to successively secure the holders on the support with each reference surface thereof engaging the reference surface of the support to successively locate the parts at known positions in opposite ends of the glass tube, electrically energizable heating elements supported by the head adjacent the ends of the tube and having contacts disposed at opposed positions on the head, and terminals included in an electrical circuit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the head to be successively engaged by the contacts to energize the heating elements to fuse the ends of the tube.

2. An apparatus for forming glass sealed conductive parts in combination with holders for removably holding the parts and having like reference surfaces disposed at known positions relative to their respective parts, the apparatus comprising a shaft, a head rotatably supported on the shaft, 2. chuck supported by the head to removably secure a glass tube in a given position, a

- support mounted on the head and having a refin an electrical circuit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the head, and means to rotate the shaft and head to move the contacts successively into engagement with the terminals to energize the heating elements to fuse the ends of the tube.--

3. An apparatus for forming glass sealed conductive parts in combination with holders for removably holding the parts and having like reference surfaces disposed at known positions relative to their respective parts, the apparatus comprising a. chuck to removably secure a glass tube in a given position, a support having a reference surface disposed at a given position relative to the glass tube, a latch carried by the support and normally urged to successively secure the holders on the support with each reference surface thereof engaging the reference surface of the support to successively locate the parts at known positions in opposite ends of the tube, heating elements rendered effective alternately to fuse the ends of the tube about the parts, and means actuable to move the latch into open position.

4. An apparatus for forming glass sealed conductive parts in combination with holders for removably holding the parts and having like reference surfaces disposed at known positions relative to their respective parts, the apparatus comprising a shaft, a head rotatably supported on the shaft, a chuck supported by the head to removably secure a glass tube in a given position, a support mounted on the head and having an aperture including relatively positioned reference surfaces corresponding in contour and relative positions to the reference surfaces of the holders, a latch carried by the support and normally urged to successively secure the holders on the support with each reference surface thereof engaging the reference surface of the support to successively locate the parts at known positions in opposite ends of the tube, electrically energizable heating elements supported by the head adjacent the ends of the tube and having contacts disposed at opposed positions on the head, and terminals included in an electrical circuit mounted at a fixed position adjacent the head to be successively engaged by the contacts to energize the heating elements to fuse the ends of the tube.

CARL HERZOG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,174,853 Bowie Oct. 3, 1939 2,361,517 White et al Oct. 31, 1944 2,402,029 Dinnick et al June 11, 1946 2,406,021 Little Aug. 20, 1946 2,523,903 Ellwood Sept. 26, 1950 

